Break.com
Break.com (formerly Big-boys.com) is a humor website founded in 1998 that features adult videos, flash games, and pictures among other material. Although much older, the website is considered a rival to YouTube. Break.com was formally known as "Big-boys.com" until the results of an arbitration case ruled the name was too similar to existing branding.[1] Break.com is lead by its chief executive officer Keith Richman. The web site's target audience is young men.[2]
Content
The main focus of the site is on the videos, which consist of short clips of varying humorous merit in many categories including animation, military, sports, humor, movies and entertainment. These often include home video footage of people being injured, usually as a result of their own recklessness or foolishness, on purpose or on accident, the site also includes television clips, viral and adult videos in its Not Safe For Work and Easteregg sections.
Visitors are able to rank site material on a scale of 1 to 5, which is factored into an average score. Users can also comment on most of the individual entries.
In January 2006, Break.com introduced a new file hosting system for its users to share their files. Shared files can be promoted to the homepage to be featured. Users that host original files promoted to the homepage are paid and the user relinquishes all rights to their material under contract. [3]
Break.com has an Alexa rating hovering between 200 and 300 as of April, 2007).[4]
The website is owned by TMFT Enterprises, LLC.
Mainstream media content
In August 2006, Break.com and Showtime partnered to promote Weeds by encouraging Break.com users to upload original videos matching the themes of the show, with winners eligible for airing on the channel.[5]
In March 2007, Break.com signed a contract with NBCU Digital Studios to develop a streaming broadband series to be featured on Break.com, tentatively titled Breakers. The show will involve attractive women finding different ways to break objects.[6] Breaker's advertising revenue will come from busnesses paying to have their product smashed on the show. Break.com's young-male demographic is expected to attract the advertisers. Break.com CEO Keith Richman stated "We have a male audience that likes attractive women and demolition."[7]
In April Break.com anounced a deal with Fear Factor/Big Brother (TV series) producer Endemol USA to create a new show called Record Breakers. The show will center around contestants attempting to break obscure world-records. Endemol chose Break.com for it's ability to reach the young-male demographic. According to MediaWeek the show is likely to carry pre-roll video advertisements and banner ads.[6]
References in the media
- Break partners with Audible Magic for copyright compiance in 2007
- In January 2007 Break.com was featured on Australia's national prime time current affairs program "Today Tonite". The program featured screenshots of numerous soft and hardcore adult content on Break.com and questioned the websites suitability for kids within the 13 - 25 age bracket, Break.com's target audience. Also recommended that Break.com have a restricted adult rating on search engines.
- Endemol to produce video for Break.com
- Website adds pros to video lineup
- CABLE PLAYING CATCH UP TO ONLINE VIDEO SITES (AdAge.com)
- On November 27, 2006 Keith Richman of Break.com was interviewed by socalTECH.com.
- Break.com announces partnership with Showtime
- In the spotlight: Keith Richman, Break.com
- Break.com Teams with StuffMagazine.com
- Break.com Review
- Break set for Web content
- SocialTech.com Interview with Keith Richman, Break.com
- Digital Hollywood Profile
- Keith Richman Profile
- Keith Richman Digital Media Summit
- Keith Richman Wall Street Journal
- Keith Richman Break.com. My experiment in E-Lebrity (Inside Dateline)
- Big media beats up on YouTube (CNNMoney.com)
- Nick Wilson joins break.com (NAMC Newswire)
See also
References
- ^ TMFT Enterprises, LLC v. Mark Cosstick Claim Number: FA0508000531518, October 10, 2005, National Arbitration Forum
- ^ Paul R. La Monica (February 9 2007). "Big media beats up on YouTube". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Break.com Terms Of Use, Retrieved April 9, 2007
- ^ Related Info for: break.com/, Alexa Internet, retrieved April 9, 2007
- ^ Heather Green (August 22, 2006). "Break.com's Innovative Marketing Deal With Showtime". BusinessWeek. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
- ^ a b Mike Shields (April 9, 2007). "Break.com, Endemol to Launch Record Breakers". MediaWeek. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
- ^ Andrew Wallenstein (March 14, 2007). "NBCU Digital Preps 'Breakers'". Adweek. Retrieved 2007-04-09.